A yield sign means you must slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary to let other traffic (including pedestrians) go first. In essence, it’s telling you to give the right-of-way to other vehicles.
When you approach a yield sign:
Slow down to a reasonable speed as you near the intersection or merge point.
Look for any oncoming or cross traffic that has priority, as well as pedestrians. If another vehicle is approaching from a different direction, determine who has the right-of-way. Typically, traffic on the main road has right-of-way over traffic on the road with the yield sign.
If traffic is present and it would be unsafe for you to continue without interfering, you need to stop (or nearly stop) and wait for a safe gap. If you see a car coming and it’s close, treat the yield like a stop: pause until the car passes, then proceed.
If no one is coming on the priority road and it’s clear, you don’t have to come to a full stop (unlike at a stop sign); you can gently merge or continue through, being cautious.
Examples:
On freeway ramps, you often see yield signs where the ramp meets the highway. That means cars on the ramp must yield to vehicles already on the highway – so slow down, look for a gap, and merge when safe. If traffic is heavy, you may have to stop at the end of the ramp until you find a gap.
At roundabouts, entering traffic usually has yield signs. Cars entering must yield to cars already in the roundabout.
At certain intersections, one direction might have a yield instead of a full stop: drivers with the yield sign must let cross traffic go first.
Remember that yielding means letting others go ahead of you. Do not assume others will stop for you at a yield sign; it’s your responsibility to check and wait if needed. Also, keep in mind pedestrians: if a pedestrian is crossing where you’re about to turn or merge, you have to yield to them as well.
In summary, a yield sign is saying: “Slow down, be ready to stop, and let others go first if they are there. Proceed only when it’s safe and you won’t cut anyone off.”
